474 Prof. F. J. Bell on Asterias rubens and the 



from A. rubens. But these specimens of Mr. Murray's to 

 which I refer were of a violet colour and had tapering ambu- 

 lacra, and I determined them therefore to be A. violacea. 



As the collection increased, and I may say that the British 

 Museum collection of British Asterias is now very extensive, 

 my suspicions were aroused by the fact that from no locality 

 other than West Scotland did Mr. Murray's species appear, 

 and many skilled naturalists to whom I showed it declared 

 that they had never seen it before. 



Certainty as to what could really be meant by others when 

 they used the term A. violacea was only attained when I had 

 the loan of Canon Norman's specimens and of those collected 

 by Mr. Hodge and preserved in the Newcastle Museum*. 

 When I did so I found that Mr. Hodge's rules do not stand 

 when a large series is taken. Similarly I found that the 

 examination of a large series of starfishes, kindly sent me 

 from the classical Cullercoats by Mr. Richard Howse, revealed 

 the fact that "A. rubens" and U A. violacea" might be 

 brought up from one spot by one dredge. 



It will be noticed that Mr. Hodge's " varieties " come 

 from different localities ; I propose to show that very diffe- 

 rent forms can be taken from one and the same spot. But 

 first we must see what variations there are. Glibly as many 

 of us talk about variation, the figures on Plate XIV. will 

 probably be a revelation to some ; these direct attention only 

 to the differences in spinulation, and that appears to be not 

 only the most instructive but also the most important 

 character. 



Firstly, and in a general way, it will be observed that there 

 are clearly two types of spines, one flat-headed or blunt, the 

 other sharp at the tip ; so, again, the spines may be compara- 

 tively few or closely packed, or they may be coarse and strong 

 or fine and delicate (PI. XIV.). 



These facts are so well brought out in the Plate drawn by 

 Mr. Highley that it would be surplusage to dilate upon 

 them. 



Now as to the distribution of these various forms, we have 

 the coarsely spined form shown in fig. 8 only from the 

 Shetland Islands ; but the spines may be stouter and less 

 sharp than or not so rough and numerous as in the specimen 

 figured in other specimens from the same place, and on the 

 other hand there is a very rough and strongly spined form 

 from 55 fathoms (south-west of Ireland). There is such a 



* To the authorities of which I desire to express my thanks for their 

 kindness. 



